Shift your mindset around Christmas gifts

• Will they love it after the moment of unwrapping is over?
• Am I buying it because they actually want or need it, or because it’s on sale and I think they’ll think it’s fun? 
• Do we have somewhere to store it? 
• Can it be worn by the next child? 

Go outside the toybox

• Waterpark or swimming pool passes – This is truly a gift that keeps Christmas alive all year long. I know it’s hard to imagine giving a gift that your children can’t use right now. But when they’re splashing around in the pool or racing down waterslides in the hot summer, at no expense to you, it will feel like the best Christmas present. Plus, I think it helps counteract the instant gratification we are all so accustomed to.
• Streaming service subscriptions – Streaming services like Hulu, Disney Plus, and Netflix are excellent for accessing your kids’ favorite movies and TV shows. Since their launch, many people have eliminated their high cable bills. The downside is that they each offer different shows and movie options. While still cheaper than cable, paying a monthly subscription to all of them can get pricey. If your kids love certain shows, ask a grandparent to pay for a year’s worth of the favored streaming service. 
• Another fun option we’ve tried is Little Passports. My oldest two got boxes from my brother a few years ago and loved them. Not only did they enjoy getting packages in their name every month, but the activities like making origami was fun to do together. With 2020 being a year with limited travel, Little Passports offers kids a taste of different cultures, new geography, and “sightseeing” in both the U.S. and other parts of this fantastic world. 

The gift of reading keeps on giving

• Activity kit subscriptions – I won’t lie to you. This gift option will add momentarily to clutter. But the fun and educational components make it worthwhile, I promise. There are a ton of unique STEM and creative activity boxes on the market that will keep your kiddos occupied while expanding their minds with creative play. I really like the many Crate options that KiwiCo has to offer from ages newborn to 16+. No matter your children’s ages, there is a Kiwi Crate for them. Green Kid Crafts is a newer STEM activity subscription that offers nature-based STEM activities. 

Items that will last longer than the day

• Dress up clothes – While this is technically stuff, it’s the stuff that encourages imaginative play. My girls love playing dress-up together – and can usually go long periods of time without arguing – so I’m all about giving them the tools they need to go all out with their princess and superhero play. Little Adventures is a super fun site that offers amazing dress-up clothes for both little girls and boys. There is even stuff for adults in case you want to get in on the dress-up play action!

• Start a tradition – Sometimes, the greatest gift you can give your children is the gift of a family tradition. They may even pass it down to their own children someday. There are many special and unique ways to do this, so think about the important things to your family. 

• New winter coat or boots – I don’t even have to say it. Winter gear is expensive AF, especially when there are multiple growing kids in a family. Fortunately, my girls are mostly staying in line for hand-me-downs. Sometimes things get worn out before they can get passed on. 

Invite others to join in

• Sports or activity related item – If your kids play sports, you know that certain times of the year are more expensive than others. Sports fees and the gear put a lot of financial stress on a family sometimes, and many kids forget that these activities are a privilege, not a guarantee. If you know your kids are going to need something activity related down the road, throw it on their Christmas list. It’s not exciting, but a year’s worth of piano or dance lessons, volleyball camp fees, new balls, shin guards, and bats will be worth it later in the year. Especially if they get a ball or new pair of shoes a step up from what you would normally buy them. 

• Craft items that could turn into a lifelong skill – Do you have a child that wants to learn to sew, knit, woodwork, build? Consider buying them a beginner sewing machine, first set of tools, or a starter paint set. It may open a door to a talent they didn’t know they had, and if not, it gives them something to do that isn’t in the form of an electronic. 

Create the magic